Issue link: http://palletcentral.uberflip.com/i/1525790
8 Pallet C e nt ral • S e ptem be r- O ctobe r 2 0 24 Y our Executive Committee and your Board of Directors have been hard at work reviewing and evaluating changes to the Association's Strategic Plan this year. We have discussed such things as the following: • Global Pallet Issues–What should our involvement be? Should we expand to other countries? • Member Engagement/ Education–How can we engage members more? • Advocacy–What else should we do to advocate for our industry? • PDS–Where should we be moving with PDS in the future? I am quite proud of your Board of Directors and how they approach these issues. Everyone has been fully committed and put much thought and effort into this process. e staff is now taking the Board's input and looking to see how we might implement these recommendations. e final step in the process will be to update the Strategic Plan. Our efforts bring to mind that, on a regular basis, we should evaluate the strategies and long-term plans for our individual companies. We all get caught up in the day-to-day challenges of running our pallet businesses. It is hard work keeping track of customer issues, workforce problems, technical problems in running our complex machinery, etc. Taking time to evaluate our current operations and future directions often seems like a luxury we don't have time for. And yet, this is the most essential part of our jobs. As some of you know, I am an avid equestrian, having competed in many events throughout the Southeast over the past ten years with my horse, Beau Riley. Before each jumping competition, I spend hours analyzing the course and planning for contingencies such as weather conditions, ground footing (wet or dry), and the mental and physical condition of the horse. Planning for every outcome is essential to success. e same preparation is essential in each of our businesses. Having a game plan with future goals in mind can make each of us more successful. Set aside time to set your goals and then create plans to make them happen. Jeff Lewis Atlanta Pallets & Services Jumping Hurdles: Strategic Planning And Future Direc on A MESSAGE FROM OUR BOARD CHAIR